Event #1: $500 Casino Employees | 2023 World Series of Poker

05-31-2023 19:14 UTC-7

5 Poker Tax Facts to Remember Heading into the 2023 WSOP

Chad Holloway

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is less than a week away, and right now players are filled with high hopes. If all goes according to plan, they’ll head out to Las Vegas and make a poker fortune, but if you’re so fortunate, remember big scores come with big responsibilities, primarily taxes!

We asked our friends over at Kondler & Associates, the premier poker tax specialists, for things players may want to remember at the 2023 WSOP. President and Owner Ray Kondler, CPA, offered his expertise below.

If you would like to receive more information about their services or receive a free assessment, please visit our Kondler & Associates hub or call (702) 433-7075. You can also check out their booth at the 2023 WSOP.

Read Kondler & Associate's 5 Tax Tips Here!

05-31-2023 19:19 UTC-7

Blanchette Loves The Ladies

Claudio Elizalde

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Paul Blanchette went all-in in middle position before it folded around to Lisa Eckstein, on the button, who was purposeful in her counting of chips as she mulled over the decision. She eventually isolated her stack against Blanchette and the blinds folded.

Paul Blanchette: Q♥Q♦

Lisa Eckstein: 7♠7♣

The flop of A♥9♥2♥ left Eckstein with only one out, which missed as the 5♦ and J♦ rolled off in succession.

Shortly after, Eckstein won a three-way pot without showdown and recouped some chips to stay in contention.

Player	Chips	Progress
Paul Blanchette	2,300,000 1,200,000	1,200,000
Lisa Eckstein	1,800,000 -625,000	-625,000

Tags: Lisa Eckstein Paul Blanchette

05-31-2023 19:28 UTC-7

McCormack Finds a Big Double

Chris Land

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

James Urbanic opened to 250,000 from under the gun and action folded around to Keith McCormack who three-bet shoved for his remaining 1,100,000. Action folded back to Urbanic who called to put another player at risk.

Keith McCormack: A♣K♣
James Urbanic: A♠Q♣

The dealer put a queen in the window but fanned the board out to reveal a king right behind it. On a final board of 3♣K♦Q♥J♣4♣, McCormack secured a full double to move himself up in the chip counts.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	4,500,000 -1,600,000	-1,600,000
Keith McCormack	2,500,000 1,300,000	1,300,000

Tags: James Urbanic Keith McCormack

Level: 29

Blinds: 60,000/120,000

Ante: 120,000

05-31-2023 19:35 UTC-7

Mark Kawamoto Eliminated in 10th Place ($4,477)

Claudio Elizalde

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

Mark Kawamoto was in late position when he went all-in for 335,000. Joe Pavan looked over the meager stack and reluctantly called.

Mark Kawamoto: J♠10♥

Joe Pavan: A♥4♠

Kawamoto looked geared up to double going into the river on a board of J♣Q♠7♣9♣ but the A♦ was a dagger to the heart. Kawamoto graciously circled the table and wished his opponents good luck in the remainder of the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joe Pavan	2,800,000 700,000	700,000
Mark Kawamoto	Busted

Tags: Mark Kawamoto Joe Pavan

05-31-2023 19:47 UTC-7

Urbanic Forces a Fold From Jiang

Chris Land

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

Bruce Jiang opened to 225,000 from the cutoff. The button and small blind folded making way for James Urbanic to call from the big blind to see a flop of 6♦K♣2♦.

Action checked through to a 10♥ turn which saw both players check again.

The river brought the 9♠ which prompted a bet of 300,000 from Urbanic. Jiang eventually decided on a fold and the pot was pushed to Urbanic.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Urbanic	4,785,000 285,000	285,000
Bruce Jiang	2,075,000 -225,000	-225,000

Tags: Bruce Jiang James Urbanic

05-31-2023 20:00 UTC-7

Lisa Eckstein Eliminated in 9th Place ($5,686)

Claudio Elizalde

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

Benson Tam raised in late position and it folded to Lisa Eckstein in the big blind, who quickly put her approximately 1,000,000 chips into play. Tam called, easily covering and putting Eckstein at risk.

Lisa Eckstein: 10♣10♥

Benson Tam: Q♦J♠

The flop helped Tam immediately, rolling off K♥7♠J♦, the A♦ on the turn had some of the table rooting for a Queen on the river, but her dreams of winning a bracelet today were thwarted when the 9♠ completed the board on the river.

Eckstein was heard throughout the tournament claiming that a woman would win again this year, especially when she was the last one standing. According to a friend of Eckstein on the rail; she was born with a deck of cards in her hand and has a family packed full of card players. She congratulated her opponents around the table before collecting her belongings and heading to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benson Tam	5,100,000 1,390,000	1,390,000

Lisa Eckstein	Busted

Tags: Benson Tam Lisa Eckstein

05-31-2023 20:12 UTC-7

Aggression From Urbanic Takes Down a Three-Bet Pot

Chris Land

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

James Urbanic opened from the cutoff to 275,000 only to see a three-bet from Peter Thai in the small blind to 625,000. Urbanic called and a flop of J♣Q♣A♦ was spread.

Thai led into Urbanic for 700,000. After a brief moment of deliberation, Urbanic announced all in creating a clash between two of the biggest stacks at the table.

Thai seemed pained by the decision as he went into the tank for about three minutes. Eventually, he tossed his cards toward the muck and Urbanic climbed back up the chip counts.